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J. C. POTTER.

GLEIANER TRUNK FOR CGTTON OPENBRS.

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UNITED STATES i ATENT OFFICE.

CLEAN ER-TRUNK FOR COTTON-OPENERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 581,471, dated April2'?, 1897.

Application tied February 26,1896. smart. 580,833. (rommel.)

To all whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES C. POTTER, -of Pawtucket, in the county ofProvidence and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Cleaner-Trunks for Cotton-Openers; and I hereby declarethat the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of thisspecification.

This invention has reference to an improvement in the construction ofthe cleaner-trunk throughwhich the cotton opened by the opener is blownfor the purpose ot removing as much as possible the impurities containedin the opened cotton.

As heretofore constructed thelower surface of the trunk was formed of agrating, usually a series of transverse slats, over which the cotton wasblown. Below this grating a series of transverse partitions were placed,so as to form a series of pockets in which the sand, leaf, and otherimpurities that passed through the grating were collected.` The bottomsof these pockets were formed by doors hinged at one side to a partitionand secured when in place at the opposite side to the'ne-xt partition.By opening these doors the dirt, sand, and dust were discharged intosuitable receptacles.

The object of my invention is to facilitate the removal 0I' the dirt,dust, sand, and other impurities and secure more ready access to thegrating for cleaning.

The invention consists in the peculiar and novel construction and thecombination of the parts, as will be more fully described hereinafter,and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 is a side view of my improved cleaner-trunk, showing both endswith the middle portion cut out, the interior grating and partitionsbeing indicated in broken lines. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional viewof the trunk. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing theconnection of the latch-plate with the bottom plate. Fig. 4 is alongitudinal section of the trunk.

' Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

In the drawings the cleaner-trunk 5 is divided transversely by thegrating 6 into the upper chamber 7, through which the cotton is blown,and the lower part subdivided by the transverse partitions S into aseries of chambers 9, in which the dust, sand, and impurities arecollected, the bottom plates or doors 10 of which, instead ot' beinghinged to the partitions 8, are hinged at one end on the brackets 1l ata point considerably below the plates 10, each plate 10 being providedwith the hinge-bracket 12. The partitions S are extended below theplates 10 at the hinged end of lthe plate 10, and a considerably greaterdistance below the plate 10, when in its normal or closed position, atthe opposite or outlet end, where the exhaust-flue 13 is connectedwith'the cleaner-trunk. At this end the partitions S are connected bythe bar 14.

The plate 15 is hinged to the outlet end of the plate 10 and is providedat its upper end with the stop 16. The wire spring 17, coiled around thepivot of the hin ge,has one end bearing on the plate 10 and the other onthe plate 15. The lower end of the plate 15 is supported on the bar 111and closes the outlet to the exhau st-flue 13 when the plate l0 is inthe closed position shown in solid lines in Fig. 2. The exhaust-flue 13is connected with the exhaustfan 18, which may be located in any desiredposition, and is provided with the dischargetube 19, through which thedirt, sand, and impurities are conveyed to any place desired for thedischarge of the impurities.

To enable others versed` in the art to carry out my invent-ion, I willnow describe the operation more fully.

From time to time the dirt, dust, sand, and other impurities depositedin the chambers 9 have to be removed, and usua'llyat longer intervalsthe grating has to be cleaned. To facilitate the removal of theimpurities,I start the exhaust-fan 18. If a general system of l exhaustis used in a mill, I connect the exhaust-flue 13 with the exhaustsystem. By means of the handles 20, connected with each of the plates15, I push oneA of the plates 15 off from the bar 14 and drop the plate10 into the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 2 and marked A. Thestop 16 will rest on the bar 14 and support the plate 10 in thisposition.A The respective chamber or chambers 9 are now in connectionwith the exhaust-flue 13 and the dirt, dust, and other impurities IOOare drawn by suction into and through the exhaust-flue I3. Such asuction would have a tendency to draw the loose cotton fiber in theupper chamber 7 onto or through the grating 6, over the particularchamber or chambers now connected with the exhaust-tube. To preventthis, air must be admitted to the chamber 9 and preferably at the endopposite the discharge end connected with the exhaust-flue; In thepreferred form I accomplish this by the hinge 12. rIhe pivotal point isbelow the plate I0, so that when the opposite end is lowered the plateI0 swings forward and the air enters each chamber, as is indicated bythe arrow shown in broken lines in Fig. 2. When the grating requiressweeping, the plate I0 is lowered into the position shown in brokenlines in Fig. 2, (marked B.)

I do not wish to conine myself to the exact detail construction hereinshown and described, as modiiications may be made without materiallychanging the results secured by the use of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent*- I. In a cleaner-trunk, the combination with theupper chamber 7, the grating 6 and the collecting-chambers 9, ot theplates 10 pivotally connected at one end with one side of the trunk andsupported by a latch at the other end, and the partitions S extendingbeyond the plates IO; whereby each plate may be lowered at one end andthe impurities discharged at one side of the trunk from each chamberseparately, as described.

2. In acleaner-trunk, the combination with the upper chamber, thegrating and the collecting-chambers, of partitions extending beyond thecollecting-chambers, plates forming the. bottoms of the chambers,hinges, supporting the ends of the bottom plates, the pivots of whichare placed below the plates, and latches for supporting the plates inthe raised or lowered position, whereby the bottom plates are raised andlowered transversely to the length of the trunk and the impurities aredischarged on one snide of the trunk from each collecting-chamberseparately, as described.

3. In a cleaner-trunk, the combination with the upper chamber, thegrating and the col lecting-chambers, of the bottom plates of thecollecting-chambers pivotally connected at one end with one side of thetrunk, a double latch supporting the opposite end of each of the platesin the raised position and in the lowered position A, and transversepartitions, extending from the grating downward below and between thebottom plates when lowered into the position A, whereby eachcollectingchamber is independently connected with the exhaust on oneside of the trunk and each chamber may be opened to give access for thecleaning of the grating, as described.

4. In a cleaner-trunk, the combination with the upper chamber, thegrating and the collectin g-chambers, of the bottom plates of thecollecting-chambers pivotally supported at one end, latches, pivotallyconnected with t-he bottom plates, adapted to support the ends of thebottom plates and close the opening of the exhaust-flue, the partitionsS and the bar let; whereby each one ot' the collecting-cham bers may beconnected with and disconnected from the exhaustiiue, as described.

5. In a cleaner-trunk the combination with the upper chamber, thegrating and the collecting-eham bers, of the bottom plates lO hinged toone side of the trunk at one end, latches for supporting the other end,an eX- haust-llue extending along' one side of the trunk, thedownward-exten ded partitions and connections between the exhaust-flueand the collectingchambers; whereby the dirt, dust and impurities ma-ybe removed from. the collecting-chambers and access may be had for thecleaning of the grating, as described.

6. In a cleaner-trunk, the combination with the upper chamber 7, thegrating 6 and the collecting-chambers 9, of the plates I0, the brackets1l and I2 forming the hinges for the support of one end of the platesl0, the latches l5 hinged to the opposite ends of the plates IO and eachhaving the stop IG at its upper and the handle 2O at its lower part, thepartitions S, the connecting-bars It and the exhaust-flue 13, wherebythe dust and impurities may be removed from the collectingchambersseparately and the inlet to the ex haust-iiue controlled, as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto setmy hand.

JAMES C. POTTER.

Vit/nesses:

J. A. MILLER, Jr., M. F. IELIGi-L IOO

